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This holiday season make breathing matter!

December 7th, 2016

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Saskatoon, December 7, 2016 – Breathing, a simple action that powers your body, your brain, your life, is at the core of everything that we do at The Lung Association. Since 1911 we have been the leading organization in lung disease prevention, helping our residents manage lung disease and promoting lung health in Saskatchewan.

“It is thanks to the generosity of our donors, volunteers and community partners that we are able to provide the programs and services that the people of our great province rely on,” says Brian Graham, The Lung Association’s President and CEO. “For almost 90 years our residents have supported our annual Christmas Seal Campaign and we are asking for their help again this year.

The air that we breathe is our greatest physical interaction with our environment and is essential to lung health. Did you know that we take approximately 22,000 breaths each day? We know how hectic it can get during the holidays but here are some things that you can do to protect the lung health of your family and guests to avoid illness or emergency hospital visits:

Test your home for radon. Saskatchewan is a hot spot for radon gas and testing is simple and inexpensive. This colourless, odourless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, yet you can easily prevent it from getting into your home.

Avoid scented products. The chemicals used to add scents can cause serious health problems for some people, especially those with lung diseases such as asthma or COPD. Scents can be found in personal-care products such as perfumes and lotion and household items like candles, fabric softeners and cleaning products.

Get your flu shot. The influenza virus causes infections of the nose, throat and lungs and some people are more at risk for serious complications from the flu, including seniors, young children, and people with long-term diseases like asthma and COPD.

When Christmas Seals arrive in your mail box, please give generously. Donations can be made by responding to our mail appeal, making a secure online donation or by calling us during regular office hours in Saskatoon at 306-343-9511 or 1-888-566-LUNG (5864) elsewhere in the province. Thank you for your charitable donations during the holiday season and throughout the year.

About The Lung Association

Our reason for being can really be summed up in one word: Breathe. It’s what unites us. It’s what inspires us. And it’s what keeps us pushing ahead— whether it’s searching for cures to lung diseases, teaching kids about the dangers of tobacco, or fighting for clean air. The Lung Association is the leading organization in Canada working to promote lung health and prevent and manage lung disease. We do this by funding vital research, pushing for improved treatments, going to bat for smarter policies, and helping patients manage their health.